Emily Dorio
Erin Byers Murray
Know Thy Farmer
July 2013
“In the early days of Nashville’s dining boom, we tapped five chefs to write essays about the farmers they couldn’t live without. It was fascinating to read their tributes—to Bells Bend, Wedge Oak Farm, Bloomsbury, and others—and I love seeing that so many of those partnerships are still thriving today.”
Nashville Food Lover’s Guide
November 2016
“Putting out a magazine takes a village. This feature gave me so much joy because of the many fun collaborations we had along the way—from the small food businesses we highlighted, to the research, design, and photo shoot. Nashville is packed with creative talent and it’s been the pleasure of my career to have been able to partner with so many remarkable individuals over the years.”
Most Beautiful People
October 2018
“Nashville Lifestyles ran its ‘Most Beautiful People’ feature for 20 years, highlighting a range of fascinating people. This year, we turn the page on that theme, focusing less on beauty and more on stories. When James Shaw Jr. agreed to be on our cover in 2018, it was a turning point—his story helped inspire us to pave a new path for this year’s list of ‘Most Fascinating People.’”
Nashville’s Top 15
April 2019
“I have loved all of our food covers—a lot of effort goes into every food feature we create. But 2019 sits at the top of the list because it was the first time, we (fellow food writer Nancy Vienneau and I) bit the bullet and ranked Nashville’s top 15 restaurants. It was meant to celebrate the hard work, spirit, and talent that goes on behind the scenes of our favorite meals and we ranked Henrietta Red number one. Now, as all of Nashville’s restaurants wrestle with the ongoing pandemic, looking back at this cover makes me nostalgic for days when we could share a platter of oysters with friends. But it also reminds me to never take for granted how fundamental restaurants are to our city’s culture, or how much work and people power it takes for that to be the case. This cover reinforces my commitment to support all local restaurants, and to celebrate their successes as they rise back.”
Nashville Strong
May 2020
“I’m so proud of the team here, especially our editor Alison Hudak, for conceptualizing, writing, designing, and publishing this issue. It came during a time of real uncertainty and yet she and everyone at the magazine jumped in to bring to life stories that memorialized one of our city’s toughest moments while expressing the very raw emotions we collectively lived through. It’s a testament to this magazine’s connection to its community and I very much look forward to seeing everything that comes next.”